How to follow up on a job application

Landing a dream job is perhaps one of the happiest feelings anyone can ever experience. But before you land a job which you always dream of, the most important point of concern is cracking the interview by presenting an impressive profile, so that the recruiter reverts at the earliest.

While at times, hiring managers might just give you a call the very next day, sometimes they might get back to you after a couple of weeks. If you find that it has been a while since your recruiter has touched base since sending in your application, then there’s probably a need for you to follow up with them.

If you are going through or have experienced similar dilemmas; clueless of what’s happening around and how to contact the recruiter without sounding annoying, impatient, and desperate, then check out these 6 incredible tips on following up with hiring managers in a smart and effective way.

Here’s how to follow up gracefully during every painful part of the job hunting process:

Wait
Follow up without sounding overly interested<
Send a thank you
Figure out if there’s anything else left to be discussed or shared from your end
Add the recruiter on LinkedIn
Practice restraint

1. Wait

It’s crucial to have patience in sensitive matters such as these, so make sure not to jump the gun. Sometimes recruiters don’t want a follow up during this stage of the process. The hiring process could also take a long time. If the job receives a lot of applications, then it may take more time for the recruiter to look through all of the applicants. Give the company enough time to reply, wait for a week or two, and then consider writing a follow-up letter.

It’s also best practice to read through the job application itself and see if there are any instructions on following up. If the application explicitly says someone will contact you first, do not reach out. However, if you don’t see any instructions, you should still wait at least a week or so before reaching out.

2. Follow up without sounding overly interested

An important factor that employers are looking for in a candidate is someone who is genuinely excited about the position, and following up is one of the easiest and most effective ways to demonstrate just that. Undeniably you’re interested in bagging the job. But if you end up reflecting an image of an overly desperate candidate, then you’re probably going to get judged on this ground. Being passionate and charged up to grab your dream job is good, but it doesn’t mean that you need to behave being pushy and too persuasive. If you realize that the recruiter isn’t expressing any further and reverting on time, choose to send this email. You may add something like this:

“Hello [insert recruiter name ], hope you had a great weekend. My name is [insert your name] and I recently applied for the [insert job title]. Since it has been more than a week and I haven’t had any response, I was just wondering if there’s anything else left to be shared or sent across. I am willing to disclose additional information, which you may find helpful in processing my application further.

Thank you and have a good day.

Sincerely,
[insert name]”

Instead of asking directly whether the recruiter is interested in hiring you, always try being a bit diplomatic by twisting your words and tone. But remember to wait for the right time to send the email. It’s not the best practice to call or email your recruiter immediately or even after a couple of days. Just see what happens next and make sure you carefully looked over your email before sending it.

3. Send a thank you

At times, you need to do certain things just for the sake of doing it, with no high hopes attached to it. For example, a thank you email might just work well when it comes to the matter of following up with your hiring managers. If you went through the interview process, following up with a thank you email or letter is strongly advised. For the job application, you could compose an email that says:

“Thank you for considering me as one of the many possible candidates at your esteemed organization. It was always an aspiration for me to work on behalf of your company. I’ve been looking for a role that fits me at [company] for awhile_, so I was so excited to apply for [role]. I’d love to discuss more_ about how my [experience] can help [company] with [position and/or company goals] further”

The idea is to leave a note of appreciation and excitement from your end. At times, even the smallest gestures mean a lot and can actually prove to be helpful for prospective applicants in the long run. Who knows your recruiter might just find such gestures ethically impressive and rate your profile on the ground of hospitality, humbleness, and corporate etiquettes.

But remember, sending a thank you note is just a humble effort of following up with the recruiter from your end. It doesn’t mean that you’re entitled to be shortlisted, based on that particular move. But that gesture of acknowledgment would definitely get counted among one of the many attributes of yours.

4. Figure out if there’s anything else left to be discussed or shared from your end

At times, we tend to miss out on disclosing certain facts and vital elements in the cover letter or resume. You never know, perhaps those little details could actually get counted in the long run. However, if you wish to share those details, then do the same at the earliest. Do not delay the process or keep things pending.

If you have already figured out the details to be shared further, then create a list, and attach them in the email for your recruiter to read and revert. Following up with your hiring manager doesn’t necessarily mean that you would only send an email of acknowledgment or a reminder for further confirmation.

Rather, it is equally important for you to recall and send across all crucial details that you may like to add up. A nice way to follow up with this process is by going through your portfolio, and every other token of achievements at a glance. See if there’s anything that pops up on your mind.

If there’s an external weblink where your works are displayed or in case there is an extra piece of insight you feel necessary to be shared, just make sure to talk about it in the email or mention the same if your recruiter calls you back.

5. Add the recruiter on LinkedIn

It is important for you to maintain an active and updated profile on LinkedIn as well. Once you have applied for the job, consider adding the recruiter on LinkedIn the very next moment. This, as a result, will help you to follow them and keep in touch with them from time to time. Apart from adding your hiring manager on LinkedIn, make sure to follow the company’s profile as well.

If in the near future you are called in for an interview, then you will be aware of the latest updates on the company shared on LinkedIn. Moreover, following up with recruiters on social media platforms like LinkedIn is always a nice way to conduct research. This would allow you to be more confident and knowledgeable about the organization’s structure and agenda.

6. Practice restraint

This goes for both after sending in an application and after an interview: It’s possible to follow up too much. Following up too much can come across as desperate and bothersome to the recruiter. If you have made multiple attempts to contact the recruiter with no response, it may be time to move on to the next job.

However, while following up too much is possible, this shouldn’t stop you from following up at all. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t hear from the hiring manager right away, but don’t become a pest either. Wait a week or two to for a response. It’s possible that your email got lost in the piles of emails that recruiters receive on a daily basis. In your follow up email, try to not come across as pushy and demanding for a response. Your email could be something like this:

“Hi [insert recruiter name],
My name is [insert name] and I recently applied for [insert job title.] I want to reaffirm my interest in being considered for the role, and confidence in my ability to bring value to your team. I look forward to the next step – is there any additional information I can provide on my end to help move the process forward?

Thank you for your time,
[insert name/signature]

What’s next?

If you receive a response from the recruiter and they have decided to move forward with your application, it’s time to prepare for the interview! Having an in-person, online, or over the phone interview is a great chance to talk more about your skills and also see if you are the right fit for that particular role.

Preparing for the interview is a crucial step in landing your dream job. Lucky for you, the team here at Deputy has a few articles to help you prepare. Being prepared is key. so check out the following blogs to gain insight on what questions could be asked during your interview:

6 Examples of How to Follow Up on Job Applications

Final Thoughts

Following up on a job application can benefit you, but only if you do it right. While it can feel like a lifetime has passed, the best you can do is wait after you’ve sent your follow-up letter. Remember, getting selected and hired for a job requires an individual to be dynamic, smart, and intelligent. Make sure your resume reflects those skills. Following up on job applications is a great way to show your interest in a company and keep your name at the top of the hiring manager’s mind. It could make a great impression, even if it doesn’t lead to an immediate hire. The worst case scenario is that you don’t get considered for the job. Stay positive and try again. Consider working a gig job on the side to improve your resume as well as a way to earn income. Check out this blog for a list of the best gig economy jobs.

It’s more important to focus on your resume, skills, and cover letter when applying for a job. Make sure to triple-check your resume and cover letter to make sure there are no typos or any grammar errors. Always try to tailor and customize your cover letter to the role and company values.

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